Babysitting The Amnesiac Lycan King

So I don't say anything.

The silence stretches between us until he finally mutters, "Goodnight, Taryn."

And then the call ends.

I lower the phone from my ear, staring at the screen like it might give me some

kind of answer. But it doesn't.

I let out a breath and lean back against the edge of the bed, pressing my head

against the mattress.

The world feels heavier than usual.

And for the first time in a long time—

I feel completely, utterly lost.

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53

I stare up at the ceiling, my back pressed against the cold floor, the documents

still sprawled around me. My chest is tight, my thoughts tangled. I should do

something-keep digging, make another call, chase the truth until I bleed for it.

But instead, I just fucking lie here.

I close my eyes. Breathe. Try not to think about him. Try not to think about the

weight of his hand on my skin, the way his voice curled around my name like it

belonged to him. Like I belonged to him.

It doesn't work.

The memory slithers in, uninvited.

I shove it down.

A loud bang makes me jolt up. My door flies open like it owes someone money,

and then there's Zoe-her arms stacked with dresses, a piece of bread jammed

between her teeth, eyes wide and full of untamed chaos. "The fuck-?" I scramble, sweeping the stolen documents off the floor in a panic,

shoving them under my bed like I'm thirteen and hiding contraband from a strict

parent.

Zoe stomps in, completely unbothered. "You," she says through a mouthful of

bread, pointing at me like I've personally offended her ancestors. "Are going out."

I blink. "The hell I am."

"Yes. The hell you are." She marches over, slamming the dresses onto my bed.

The hangers clatter against each other. "Because you need it. Desperately."

I exhale sharply, rubbing my temples. "Zoe, I'm not in the mood for some-"I motion

vaguely at the dresses, at her overly

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11:54 Tue, 25 M

Chapter 76

determined expression. "-whatever the fuck this is."

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+53)

"Oh, I know," she says, too sweetly. "That's why I'm forcing you. Because if I don't,

sit in this room, going batshit

and I refuse to let that

like being a feral

hips, tilting

on how to stop being

need to clear your head. And what

something physical?"

my

She grins, all teeth.

me I won't like

knew I

step inside, the air changes-charged, thick with sweat

It smells like leather, metal, and aggression.

flashing erratically, casting jagged

place feels like a well-dressed crime scene. Music blasts through the speakers, heavy bass shaking the

the sounds of fists slamming into flesh, grunts of pain, the

referees calling

goddamn underground fight

turn to

She smiles innocently.

dragged me

corrects. "Not illegal.

her. Then the ring. Then back

fuck is

relax," she groans, waving a dismissive hand. "You need

figured

deep voice

kill you

I whip around.

there, standing next to the ring, arms crossed, expression as unreadable

ever-is Jacob Wyatt.

I blink. Hard.

Zoe. "You planned this? With

Zoe shrugs. "Guilty"

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Tue, 25 Mar

Chapter 76

hands up.

tonight," Jacob says casually, like he didn't just drop a

turn back to him. "Someone is

Jacob smirks. "Fighting."

"For what?"

answer. He just looks at me.

And

about the way

stomach

drop.

sinking feeling crawls up my

fighting anyone

He doesn't reply.

Just smiles.

then I hear

cutting through the thick air

gentlemen, the match you've

The

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whip around to the ring. Two fighters are already inside-one

shake hands. And then, without warning, they brutalize

It's not a sport.

It's war.

against the mat. The English guy lands a hook

feel it. The Italian retaliates, grabbing the

him into

My stomach churns.

a normal fight. This

"I

my arm.

fucking trust

fight ends with a knockout. The Italian

The crowd goes wild.

announcer's voice booms

unlike any

The lights cut out.